OFFICIAL PROGRAM APRIL 7, 2018 TONIGHT’S SCHEDULE APRIL 7, 2018 Sing Along “HAPPY TOGETHER” Asa Nelson — 12-year-old fiddler Xela Pinkerton — Vocalist James Brock & Eric Lovell — World music WELCOME! A Sign of the Times — Jazz band “Blue MOON” Born from intimate living room jam sessions in the 1980’s, Sing Along Tosco Music is now in its 20th year as a nonprofit organization “L-O-V-E” dedicated to helping people of all ages explore, develop, and Jessica Borgnis — Singer-songwriter share their passion for music in all its forms. Griffin House — Singer-songwriter While we’ve expanded to larger venues over the years and Mark & Maggie O’Connor — American Classics added new outreach programs like our open mic, youth music scholarships and senior sing along parties, our core value has never changed — it’s still all about the music! Sing Along “My GIRL” At each Tosco Music Party, nationally recognized acts INTERMISSION — Refreshments and artists’ CDs are available in the lobby. share the stage with undiscovered artists and our audience members enthusiastically sing along. We strive to keep ticket Sing Along “WAGON WHEEL” prices low and offer discounts and ticket scholarships so that — Vocalists the music parties remain accessible to everyone. Jason Hackner & Phyllis Fulton All of the performers are volunteering their talent tonight. Omar Mims — Lapsteel guitarist Please support them by buying their CDs, hiring them for your Cameron Moore — Singer-songwriter own special event, and going to their shows. Chócala — “Latinx alternativo” Please connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube Walter Parks — Singer-songwriter and Twitter. Visit ToscoMusic.org to join our mailing list, become a Tosco Music member, volunteer, or give feedback. Sing Along “IMAGINE” We hope you’ll join us in our effort to share the joy of live music and enrich Charlotte’s community for years to come! ToscoMusic.org Program and artists are subject to change. Use of cellular phones is prohibited. Use of recording devices and/or cameras without permission is prohibited. MARK & MAGGIE O’CONNOR - American Classics Mark and Maggie O’Connor offer a broad and interconnected collection PERFORMER BIOS of American music through violin/fiddle solos and duets that identify the cornerstones of A New American School of String Playing from the ASA NELSON O’Connor Method, with additional music by Mark O’Connor on guitar. Starting at age 6 in the Junior Appalachian Musicians program, this Mark and Maggie recently won a Grammy for “Best Bluegrass Album” 12-year-old fiddler placed twice in the top 3 youth old time fiddlers at the with the Mark O’Connor Band. Mark has earned many awards over his 40- Galax fiddlers convention. He co-starred in the film “The Mountain Minor” year career for playing and composing in a variety of styles (bluegrass, (2017) and played at the International Bluegrass Music Association with jazz, classical), including national titles on fiddle, bluegrass guitar and his band, The Tater Hill Mashers (2016-2017). [email protected] mandolin as well as the Country Music Association’s Musician of the Year Award six years in a row. Charlotte Symphony Orchestra named Mark their first Artist-in-Residence in 2016. Mark & Maggie will host their first XELA PINKERTON String Camp for youth and adults in Charlotte this summer. An Artist in Residence with Opera Carolina, this operatic soprano has oconnormethodstringcamp.com been featured on Opera Carolina’s Main Stage. She covered the role of Madama Butterfly in Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance Program JASON HACKNER & PHYLLIS FULTON for emerging artists. Accompanyng Pinkerton tonight is Janice Bradner who currently teaches at Winthrop University. operacarolina.org Singing with the TMP Singalong Choir for two years and ten years respectively, Jason and Phyllis both reflect the joy of music when they sing. Jason trained in musical theatre at the University of Michigan at Ann James Brock & Eric Lovell Arbor and later performed in musical productions and festivals during his Charlotte-based multi-instrumentalist, James (drums, percussion) creates fifteen years in Chicago. Phyllis is a native Charlottean who has been sing- new styles of music by fusing various cultural origins of the world. He ing since she could talk. As owner of Music Together of Charlotte, Phyllis’ has performed with musicians from Hungary, Brazil, and Iran, and is now musical mission is to return the joy of having music in your life to families working on a documentary entitled “Atlas: Origins of Folk” that brings all over Charlotte. [email protected], musictogetherofcharlotte.com musicians from around the globe together in a collective original work of world fusion music. Eric plays guitar, many other Western stringed OMAR MIMS instruments, the sitar from India, and the rebab from Afghanastan. For A third generation sacred steel player, Omar began playing in the living 35 years, he toured extensively in the US and Europe. He has engineered room of a row house in Washington D.C. that was later converted into a and/or produced nearly 60 albums. His world music influence is a key sanctuary for church services. Often not having other musicians to play element in the unique sound of Gigi Dover & The Big Love. with, Omar devised his lap steel skills to make up for other instruments. facebook.com/james.brock.980315, gigidover.com/eric-lovell He takes pride in being versatile, and enjoys playing a variety of styles. exploring the commonality between folk, bluegrass and gospel music. A SIGN OF THE TIMES BAND instagram.com/mrlapsteel A non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the legacy of the African Diaspora through music, dance and the spoken word, ASOTT is CAMERON MOORE led by Tyrone Jefferson (composer, arranger, trombonist) along with Toni Tupponce (Program Director, vocalist) who develop entertaining and A Charlotte native, Cameron fell in love with music after learning guitar educational programs, such as “Bridging Musical Worlds” and “Diggin’ at a young age. He began recording in high school, paving the way to Black History Thru Music and Dance”, designed to inform the public of a professional career in the music industry as a singer-songwriter. He is affiliated with Dream Records, and recently released his second record, the rich history of Africans and African Americans. asignofthetimes.org Alpenglow, available on all digital platforms. cameronmooremusic.com JESSICA BORGNIS Chócala Starting in the Nashville songwriting scene, Jessica is now based in A sonic amalgamation of Latin rhythms, rock, and jazz with a touch of Charlotte. She spent much of the last decade performing in the local jazz tropical psychedelia, Chócala offers an experimental yet approachable community. “Life in the Carolinas” named her an up and coming artist. sound with an infectious groove. Keyboardist Liza Ortiz fronts the band Her forthcoming album, Waitin’ (fall 2018), will blend jazz and folk, with with lyrics about self-assessment and affirmation that are powerful, influences like Carole King and Diana Krall.jessicaborgnismusic.com heartfelt, and entirely in Spanish. Michael Anderson (saxophone), Davey Blackburn (percussion), and Claudio Ortiz (bass) playfully harmonize and GRIFFIN HOUSE explore polyrhythmic soundscapes. facebook.com/chocalamusic A Nashville based singer-songwriter, Griffin has performed for more than a decade and recorded ten albums. His songs have been featured in film WALTER PARKS and TV shows, receiving early acclaim on CBS Sunday Morning. Infusing This veteran of blues and jazz was lead guitarist for Richie Havens. He’s roots, rock, blues and country, Griffin creates a blend of images that set played Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and London’s Jazz Café. him apart and shine through on his current album, So On and So Forth With North Florida roots, he now leads the neo-southern rock group (2016). His unassuming performances showcase his smooth voice, subtle, Swamp Cabbage with his banjo-esque fingerpicking style, raspy vocal gritty guitar and captivatingly personal songs. griffinhousemusic.com lows and soaring operatic falsetto. walterparks.com Sing Along HAPPY TOGETHER (G. Bonner, A. Gordon) Imagine me and you, I do I think about you day and night, it’s only right To think about the girl you love and hold her tight So happy together If I should call you up, invest a dime And you say you belong to me and ease my mind Imagine how the world could be, so very fine So happy together I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you for all my life When you’re with me baby the skies will be blue For all my life Me and you, and you and me No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be The only one for me is you and you for me So happy together (Chorus) Me and you, and you and me No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be The only one for me is you and you for me So happy together Ba, ba, ba... Me and you, and you and me No matter how they toss the dice, it had to be The only one for me is you and you for me So happy together, so happy together How is the weather, So happy together (repeat) BLUE MOON L-O-V-E (R. Rodgers and L. Hart) (M. Gabler, B. Kaempfert) Blue Moon L is for the way you look at me You saw me standing alone O is for the only one I see Without a dream in my heart V is very, very extraordinary Without a love of my own E is even more than anyone that you adore, and Blue Moon Love is all that I can give to you You knew just what I was there for Love is more than just a game for two You heard me saying a prayer for Two in love